Glastonbury 2023 – latest: Elton John says thank-you to festival audience after farewell UK performance
Rocket Man bids farewell as he played what could be his final live show in the UK, with a jaw-dropping, career-spanning set of his greatest songs
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Elton John performed what will go down as one of the greatest headline shows in Glastonbury history last night (Sunday 25 June), to one of the biggest crowds the festival has seen in years.
Lil Nas X was the final artist to take to the main stage before the 76-year-old at Worthy Farm, Somerset, after a joyful Yusuf/Cat Stevens entertained fans with songs including “Wild World” and “Father and Son”.
The revered folk singer-songwriter performed with his band in the coveted Legends Slot, a gig previously handed to artists including Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue and Dolly Parton. He also gave superfan/comedian Ricky Gervais a shout-out on his birthday, before playing his song “Tea for the Tillerman”.
At 9pm, John launched his performance with some of his best-known songs, including his 1975 cover of “Pinball Wizard” and “Benny and the Jets”. From the moment he sat down at the piano, the show was a pure blast of euphoria from one of the world’s greatest living entertainers, with surprise guests including The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, and Gabriels singer Jacob Lusk.
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A clip from last night.
Did you catch the set on TV?
For those wondering what’s on today, here’s a full breakdown of everything playing at Glastonbury.
Glastonbury 2023: Full line up and stage times
Your full guide to the festival’s mammoth line up, including headliners Arctic Monkeys and Elton John, plus major draws such as Lizzo, Lewis Capaldi and Lana Del Rey
Read Jazz Monroe’s five-star review of Arctic Monkeys...
Arctic Monkeys begin their Glastonbury Friday night headline set in darkness, an ominous pulse ringing across the rammed fields like an elevator ticking off levels in a Kubrick film. Alex Turner walks on in a severely unbuttoned white shirt and open suit jacket, his hair manicured like vintage Roy Orbison. The choice of opener – the gorgeously chilly, Portishead-esque “Sculptures of Anything Goes” – could not signal their transformation more clearly, nor their faith in the experimental bent of their latest two albums. Here is a song they could never have written last time they headlined Glastonbury, in 2013 – a bold choice that doubles as justification for their return, just two divisive albums later.
They move swiftly into the hyperspeed Brianstorm and a string of crowdpleasers such as “Don’t Sit Down ’Cos I’ve Moved Your Chair” – from 2009’s Humbug, and “Snap Out of It”, from 2013’s stratospherically popular AM – that show the depth of their catalogue. Turner is in strong voice, with no sign of the laryngitis that forced them to cancel a midweek show in Dublin and threatened, until the last minute, to derail tonight’s set.
Full review:
Arctic Monkeys at Glastonbury was a masterclass in subversive showmanship – review
Laryngitis is but a distant memory for the Sheffield band who are back on top form
‘Just play your belters!’ - Arctics accused of butchering their Glastonbury set
On the night, some fans were disappointed at the lack of songs from Arctic Monkeys’ earlier albums, including Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare. This was their third time topping the bill at the legendary festival.
Arctic Monkeys accused of ‘butchering’ Glastonbury set
Sheffield rock band played a number of popular hits from their back catalogue, but many in the audience at Worthy Farm and fans watching from home were left feeling unsatisfied
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Is Glastonbury happening next year, and how do I get tickets?
Why yes, Worthy Farm will be opening its gates once more in 2024!
Co-organiser Emily Eavis has already confirmed that they have one, possibly two, headline acts in the bag.
For those keen-beans among you who want to know how you can get your hands on tickets for Glastonbury next year, here’s our handy guide:
How to get tickets for Glastonbury 2024
If you missed out on Glastonbury tickets this year, here’s how you can be in with a chance of securing them in 2024